Only time will tell how well this will do but Cingular is betting that they have a good deal with their "captive" audience.
Those in search of the ultimate mobile music experience need look no further than Cingular Wireless which today announced the launch of Cingular Music, an integrated, on-the-go music experience that delivers "your music, your way."
Cingular teamed with Microsoft to incorporate Windows Media Digital Rights Management into select handsets, making it possible for customers to enjoy and discover subscription music from the wireless phone.
Cingular Music delivers several industry firsts in regards to subscription music:
* Most comprehensive music subscription service of its kind ever offered
by a U.S. wireless carrier
* The largest collection of mobile music content available on the handset
from the leading online music retailers
* First and only U.S. carrier to enable mobile portability of online
subscription music content from Napster and Yahoo!
* Simple one-click access to a complete-suite of music related content,
giving users easy access to all things music on their phone in one
location
"Cingular Music is our answer to a fragmented marketplace that until now has not fully taken into account the user experience," says Jim Ryan, vice president of consumer data services, Cingular Wireless. "Music has become such an integral part of our lives and many consumers want a simple and integrated mobile music experience that gives them access to all things music — including songs, videos, news, data and information. With Cingular Music, we are offering our customers one click access to their music, their way."
With Cingular Music, Cingular has dramatically accelerated the convergence of wireless and music. Although the ability to listen to music on the cell phone is not new, what is unique about Cingular Music is the ease of use and open access it provides to music-related content. Unlike other wireless carriers who provide access to a single music storefront that may or may not seamlessly integrate with a consumer's PC-based music library, Cingular Music makes it easy to take your music with you and offers the widest selection of music content in the industry today, including integration with Napster and Yahoo! Music, as well as support for other music stores.
Cingular Music also seamlessly integrates with eMusic, which sells tracks in the universally compatible MP3 format.
"Cingular's vision of delivering easy and flexible access to a range of leading online music stores makes them a great technology partner for Microsoft in the vitally important area of mobile entertainment," said Amir Majidimehr, corporate vice president of the Consumer Media Technology Group at Microsoft Corp. "Microsoft's focus and commitment continues to be on ensuring our DRM technology provides the best functionality to enable compelling business models for current and future media-rich services, such as Cingular Music."
"The launch of Cingular Music marks another important milestone in our strategic relationship with Cingular Wireless," said Michael Nash, Senior Vice President, Digital Strategy and Business Development, Warner Music Group. "Integrated for the first time through a wireless carrier's mobile platform, the Cingular Music store combines secure, portable subscription with technologically advanced handsets in a terrific development for mobile customers. We look forward to working with our wireless service partners as they advance their technology roadmaps and the evolution of music delivery so consumers can experience our artists' music in a variety of new and exciting ways."
With Cingular Music, Cingular is the first U.S. carrier to distribute subscription music to the handset — allowing consumers to extend their existing music libraries not rebuild them. And, for consumers who are new to subscription-based music, Cingular is making it possible for them to discover millions of new songs and take their favorites with them wherever they go.
Click read more below to see the full news item
No comments:
Post a Comment